Return of the Rev
Well-known member
Went into the years 1974 as a 14 yo, went with my 26 yo sister
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[Brighton] Photos of Brighton 1976
- Thread starter BN9 BHA
- Start date
Weststander
Well-known member
Nice to see so many replies to this thread, great to read the memories of going drinking in Brighton.
I get the feeling I was the only one to not go to the Hungry Years.
Never went there.
In to disco
and New Wave .... so much choice elsewhere in the town.
- Jul 10, 2003
- 27,772
I do remember going in there once to see what it was like, but back in late 70's early 80's when I lived in Kemp Town, the Bulldog was our regular.
That's changed a bit
Weststander
Well-known member
I do remember going in there once to see what it was like, but back in late 70's early 80's when I lived in Kemp Town, the Bulldog was our regular.
That's changed a bit
I did go to few gay clubs, with girlfriends (said in overly deep voice) or mate when every one club was shut in the week. Bolts (Sunday nights at The Pink Cocunut) was literally the only choice, but they played incredible dance music.
These days I'd be called Woke or a Virtue Signaller.
Ha! I worked at The New Regent, next door, for a while, and Sunday night there was 'rock night'. Was always amusing to see two totally different cultures piling out at the end of the night, and mingling in West Street.
If I remember correctly, there was rarely any aggravation, either, as both factions seemed very tolerant of each other.
- Jul 10, 2003
- 27,772
Back then the Bulldog was just a 'locals' pub like any other in town. I remember one of the barmen and a few customers were gay, but it wasn't what defined the pub.
Yes indeed, the years of 'tolerance' .... sigh
Weststander
Well-known member
Bolts must’ve brought in their own booze. They had ice cold cans of Colt45, beautiful stuff.
As a lifetime night owl, I was gutted when it closed at 11 or 12pm. The old licensing laws were a joke …. thank you to Tony Blair I think for ridding us of the WW1 nonsense.
Weststander
Well-known member
Can I just say, gay-bashing was a big thing. Various gf’s knew loads of gay men, many took brutal kickings in east Brighton from neanderthals. Sorry.
Was it still a rock club, in '74?
For anyone interested, there's Facebook group for the Years.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2412138951
It was still a rock club in 92!
I concur - it went on a lot, but I'll still say that it wasn't a thing carried out by the rock club customers - more the 'lads' out on the piss in other venues.
Most of us were too busy listening/headbanging to music, than cause grief to gay folk.
Well yes.
I'll rephrase the question: Was it a rock club in '74? I think John and Pepa took it over in '76, but what was it prior to '76, when you went?
Weststander
Well-known member
Yep, that.
Thick as shit scummers heading home. The age old story, they hadn’t pulled and couldn’t take it, so then either attack someone in West Street and/or a gay person in St James’s Street.
Indeed, most of them young, spotty, pissed-up oiks who 'hunted' in packs. Sad bunch, really.
I get the feeling I was the only one to not go to the Hungry Years.
I know the feeling. I never went to Sherry's, or Top Rank or Jenkinson's or any number of late night clubs. Judging by other responses, I'm the only person brought up in Brighton in the 70s and 80s who never went there
Streets look clean and no rubbish.
It was the same when I was a punk in the late 70s. Half our gang were gay. Mind you, a lot of yobs were a bit scared of the punks. I only ever got problems from Teds at Portslade station.
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Weststander
Well-known member
No Queensbury’s Rules or street chivalry, they’re tall tales ….. I’ve seen that nonsense posted on nsc. Always a coward’s punch.
- Jul 10, 2003
- 27,772
To be fair I was being a bit blase about something that was bad at the time. One of my mates at the time was a big evil ****er who happened to be gay. He put a few homophobes right about what would happen if they tried 'gay bashing'
But it was a problem at the time, and still, but thank god far less, today. Although it seems the majority of homophobes/racists and other inadequates don't get out from behind their keyboards much these days. I like to think some of that was down to my mate
(And there I go again)
Weststander
Well-known member
To be fair I was being a bit blase about something that was bad at the time. One of my mates at the time was a big evil ****er who happened to be gay. He put a few homophobes right about what would happen if they tried 'gay bashing'
But it was a problem at the time, and still, thank god far less today. Although it seems the majority of homophobes/racists and other inadequates don't get out from behind their keyboards much these days. I like to think some of that was down to my mate
(And there I go again)
Going anecdotally by the odd incident in the Argus for example, it’s definitely crept back. Lesbian couples attacked by male thugs elsewhere in the UK too.
I love stories like that in your first para. I ‘know’ of a few similar incidents in the hetero male world back in the 80’s …. chavvy perpetrators who cowardly attacked the wrong people in Brighton and the next day would’ve very much regretted their blunder.